Asian Games 2023 Shafali Verma: The grand stage of the Asian Games 2023 unfolds in Hangzhou, China, where the maiden encounter of the Indian women’s cricket contingent commences its engagement with Malaysia today.
This contest finds the Indian side directly immersed in a quarter-final skirmish, an outcome that, if victorious, will propel them into the hallowed grounds of the semi-finals. In this spirited clash, the Malaysian women’s team seized the initiative by electing to initiate the proceedings with the ball.
The Indian women’s cricket ensemble has charted an illustrious course to the semi-finals of the Asian Games 2023. Regrettably, inclement weather forced the abandonment of the match contested between India and Malaysia.
When India took to the crease first, they compiled a commendable total of 173 runs at the cost of merely two wickets. In response, the Malaysian side could only face a mere duo of deliveries. Notably, it was Shafali Verma who etched her name in the annals of cricket history while wielding the willow for India.
She scripted an unprecedented narrative, emerging as the first Indian cricketer, male or female, to achieve a half-century at the Asian Games.
First Shafali Verma to score fifty in Asian Games
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were tasked with inaugurating the Indian innings. Smriti’s sojourn ended at 27 runs during the 16th over. In stark contrast, Shafali Verma dazzled, amassing a resplendent 67 runs off a mere 39 deliveries.
During her masterful display, Shefali dispatched the ball to the boundary on four occasions and cleared the rope five times with towering sixes. In doing so, she etched her name in the annals of cricket history as the inaugural female athlete to register a half-century at the Asian Games while donning the Indian jersey.
Achieved remarkable achievement in T-20 International
It is worth noting that Shafali Verma, the explosive opening batswoman of the Indian women’s cricket team, reached her half-century milestone in a mere 31 balls. She culminated this remarkable feat with a colossal six off the very first delivery of the 11th over.
It is essential to highlight that Shafali Verma amassed a remarkable tally of five sixes in her innings, thereby establishing herself as the cricketer who struck the most sixes in a debut match at the Asian Games. Furthermore, she attained another distinction by becoming the youngest cricketer, at the tender age of 19, to amass 50 sixes in the realm of T20 cricket.
The semi-final spectacle is slated for the 24th of September
Jemima Rodrigues remained unbeaten with a commendable contribution of 47 runs for India. Her aggressive batting repertoire featured six boundaries off 29 balls. Richa Ghosh, too, played an impactful role by amassing 21 runs from a mere seven deliveries, remaining unbeaten in the process.
Richa showcased her prowess by striking three boundaries and one towering six during her innings. In pursuit of their target, the Malaysian contingent managed to face only two deliveries before the heavens opened up, resulting in the abandonment of the match.
As a consequence, the Indian team secured their berth in the semi-finals. The upcoming semi-final duel is scheduled for the 24th of September, while the climactic final showdown will unfold on the 25th of September.
